e-Safety
E-safety is an important part of modern life and it is everything that we do to keep ourselves and others safe when using technology.
What does it cover?
E-safety includes all technology such as computers, games consoles, tablets and mobile phones and the activities we do on these items.
Why is it important?
Nearly half of all children have their own tablets. This is great for entertainment and learning but it also exposes children to some online risks. An understanding of E-safety minimises or removes these risks altogether. Your school and your family are important in protecting you from online dangers. It is adult’s responsibility to protect you from these online risks and teach you how to protect yourselves.
Who can help?
You can get E-safety help from lots of different places. At school, you can talk to your class teacher or another member of staff you trust. At home, your parents, carers and older brothers and sisters can offer you help. There is also lots of online support and information about E-safety. Click on the images to visit these external sites;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The most important thing to remember is that if you are unhappy about something or need some help, speak to a grownup that you trust.
Depending on your age, the things you do online and the risks you face change. Click the dropdowns below to find age-appropriate information and advice.
What do I do if...
I am in Reception or Year 1
What technology do I use?
I watch TV
I watch videos on websites such as YouTube.
I play games on a phone, tablet or console.
What is the risk?
I might see something scary.
I might see something that makes me upset.
Something might make me sad or worried.
How can I stay safe?
Only watch videos or play games when an adult is with you.
Tell a grownup you trust if you see or hear anything scary or upsetting.
My Questions
| "I saw a scary video. Now I am sad. What should I do?" |
|---|
| Tell a grown up you trust so that they can help you. |
More help and advice
I am in Year 2, Year 3 or Year 4
What technology do I use?
I watch TV
I watch videos on websites such as YouTube.
I play games on a tablet or console.
I use a mobile phone to take photos and share them with others.
I chat with other people using technology.
What is the risk?
I might see something that scares me or makes me upset.
Someone else might say something that I don’t understand or that makes me feel sad or worried.
I might share information or images that should be kept private.
How can I stay safe?
- Don’t watch videos and play games by yourself. Only do these things when an adult is with you.
- Only make online friends with people you know in real life. Remember the rules about stranger danger apply here too! Ask your parents before you accept any friends.
- Speak to a grownup you trust. If you are upset or scared by something you see or hear you need to tell an adult.
- Ask before you take a photo. If you want to take a photo of someone else or share a photo with other people, you must ask before you do.
- Never share personal information. Information such as your name, your address, your phone number or your passwords are your personal information and should be kept private online. Tell a grown up straight away if someone asks you for it.
My Questions
| "I was watching a scary video and now i'm sad. Mum has already told me off for watching scary videos so I don't want to talk to her. What should I do?" |
|---|
| We all make the wrong choice sometimes but the most important thing is that you tell someone how you are feeling so that they can help you. This might be your mum, dad, or another adult you trust. |
| "Someone was mean online and I'm feeling upset. I want to ask for help but I don't know what to say." |
|---|
| You need to say how you are feeling, explain what happened and ask for help. For example, "Dad, I'm upset because someone was mean to me. Can I talk to you?" |
More help and advice
I am in Year 5 or Year 6
What technology do I use?
I watch TV
I watch videos on websites such as YouTube.
I play games on a phone, tablet or console.
I use a mobile phone to take photos and share them with others.
I chat with other people using technology.
I use social media to communicate with friends and family
What is the risk?
I might see something that scares me or makes me upset.
Someone else might say something that I don’t understand or that makes me feel sad or worried.
I might share information or images that should be kept private.
How can I stay safe?
- Only watch videos, play games and join social media platforms that are suitable for your age group. Not all games, social media platforms and programmes are appropriate for everyone. For example, TikTok is aimed at teenagers and young adults but Spotlight is for children aged 8 or over. If you are unsure whether something is for you, ask an adult for some advice.
- Think before you post. Once something has been put on the internet you can’t remove it – especially not if it has been copied or shared.
- Only make online friends with people you know in real life. Remember the rules about stranger danger apply here too! Ask your parents before you accept any friends.
- Speak to a grownup you trust. If you are upset or scared by something you see or hear you need to share those feelings with an adult.
- Ask before you take a photo. If you want to take a photo of someone else or share a photo with other people, you must ask before you do.
- Do not share personal information. Information such as your name, your address, your phone number or your passwords are your personal information and should be kept private online. If anyone asks you for it you must tell a grown up straight away.
My Questions
| "I was watching a film with my older brother and now I'm scared. Dad has already told us off for watching 15 rated films so I don't want to tell him how I feel. What should I do? |
|---|
| We all make the wrong choice sometimes but the most important thing is that you tell someone how you are feeling so that they can help you. This might be your mum, dad, or another adult you trust. |
| "Someone was mean online and I'm feeling upset. I want to ask for help but I don't know what to say." |
|---|
| You need to say how you are feeling, explain what happened and ask for help. For example, "Dad, I'm upset because someone was mean to me. Can I talk to you?" |
| "All my friends are using TikTok and Facebook but I'm not allowed. Why are my parents being so mean?" |
|---|
| Your parents are following the rules of TikTok and Facebook. They say you must be 13 or over to have an account. If you want a social media account, apps like Spotlight and Popjam are suitable for children in Year 5 or Year 6. |
More help and advice
I am a parent or carer
Why is this important?
The Internet is an amazing resource for both learning and entertainment. It is an important part of how we live our lives but it isn’t without risks.
When allowing children access to online resources, it is the responsibility of adults providing this access to be aware of what the risks are, to support children to use the resources safely and to gradually teach children to be more independent in managing their own online safety.
What can I do to keep my child safe online?
Explore together: Ask your child to show you their favourite websites and apps, and talk about how they use them.
Chat little and often about online safety: If you’re introducing them to new websites and apps, talk about how to stay safe when using them.
Help your child identify people who can help them if they are worried: This includes you and other adults at home, as well as adults from your wider family, school or other services.
Don’t judge: Tell them that whatever might happen online, you will always support them.
Supervise their online activity: Keep the devices your child uses in shared areas so you know what they are doing.
Talk about the consequence of their online behaviour: If your child is chatting online, remind them to think about how someone else might feel before they say or do something.
Use ‘SafeSearch’: Most web search engines will have a ‘Safe Search’ function, which allows you to limit what your child can see. There are a number of Safe Search Engines in our Fun Zone.
Frequently asked questions
| "My child is watching inappropriate things without my knowledge. How can I stop this happening?" |
|---|
| Internet and mobile phone providers offer parental controls to stop children viewing certain types of content. Individual apps also have settings to limit what children are able to see or do. However, these systems are not perfect or a substitute for parental supervision. |
| "My child wants to join a social media platform, should I let them?" |
|---|
| The terms and conditions of apps and social media platforms clearly state the age you have to be to have an account and this is a reflection of the content they contain. For example, TikTok and Facebook both require users to be 13 or over, whereas Spotlight (8+) and Popjam (9+) allow younger users. If you are unsure if something is suitable, the Net-Aware website offers a great deal of information and advice. |
| "Something has happened online and I need to tell the police. What should I do?" |
|---|
| If it is an emergency, this means someone is in immediate danger, then you should call 999. If it is a non-emergency, this means there is no immediate risk to anyone, you should call 101. If it relates to child sexual exploitation or abuse, you can make a report to CEOP. You can find the link below. |
More help and advice
Do you want to find out more about an app? Net Aware from the NSPCC has information about social networks, games and apps.
Are you worried about something that happened online and need to report it to the police?
Would you like to find out more about social media apps for young people? This site includes a list of child friendly social media apps designed to help children learn to interact with each other and to share safely online.
There are many online sources of support and information about E-safety. Click on the images to visit these external sites.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As a school we understand the importance of keeping our children safe online. There are many wonderful things children can learn using the Internet and lots of things online can help children with their education. It is important that children and parents are aware of the risks and dangers that come with the Internet.
The way in which we educate children and parents are set out in our e-safety policy.
All children sign an e-safety agreement, which can be found below, so children know how to keep themselves safe.
You can find Safe Search Engines on any of these sites:
Online Learning
Internet Matters A site that gives lots of helpful guides to current issues as well as resources to help manage your child's use of the internet
Net Aware This gives an overview of e-safety and how to navigate Social Media and other online communications.
CEOP This site works to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. You can make an online report if you have concerns about a child or you are a child looking for help.
Childline Covers a range of issues that children may face and helps point them in the right direction for the appropriate support.
UK Safer Internet This site focuses on remembering your S.M.A.R.T. rules as well as being another very helpful bank of resources
